Solid-Lubrication with Continous Replenishment by Catalytically Generated Carbon and Related Means

在石油工业中，用于烃类裂解和脱氢的催化表面由于碳或“焦”涂层而在一些使用后变得不活跃。建议的研究是针对使用这种涂层，最好是在模拟诸如“绝热”柴油发动机等操作机械的环境下生产的，作为自补充的固体润滑剂。碳涂层的持续磨损将保持基体的催化活性。这种柴油机活塞环/气缸区域的工作温度和某些过渡金属催化生成焦炭的首选温度恰好在500-600℃范围内。在这些碳上吸附燃烧室气体将进一步减少摩擦和磨损。同样的过渡金属，在合金中或在陶瓷中或在陶瓷上也与碳氢化合物很接近。建议的研究项目将使用针盘式测试器对可重复制备的样品进行测试，并确定摩擦磨损率、碳形成率和碳氧化率，以帮助指导发动机环境下高温润滑的设计和材料选择。

Catalytic surfaces for hydrocarbon cracking and dehydrogenation have been known in the petroleum industry to become inactive after some use because of carbon or "coke" coating. The proposed research is directed toward using such coatings, preferably produced under conditions simulating the environment of such operating machinery as the "adiabatic" diesel engine, as self-replenishing solid lubricants. Continued wear of the carbon coatings would maintain catalytic activity of the substrate. The operating temperatures in the piston-ring/cylinder area of such a diesel engine and the preferred temperature of catalytic coke generation by some transition metals happen to coincide in the 500-600 C range. Adsorption of combustion chamber gases on these carbons would further reduce friction and wear. The same transition metals, in alloys or in or on ceramics are also close to hydrocarbons. The suggested research program will use pin-on-disk testers on reproducibly prepared samples and determine the friction and wear rates, rates of carbon formation and rates of carbon oxidation to help guide the design and materials selection for high temperature lubrication in an engine environment.